Vince Leigh’s Single Review: This is Me by Prema Smith
By Vince Leigh (Ex drummer of Pseudo Echo, Tina Arena and John Farnham) of Australian Radio Promotion for Sheldon Ang Media
Emerging Australian R&B artist Prema Smith has released This Is Me, a contemporary pop-fused track whose origins relate to Prema’s history. With his latest, Prema has collaborated with Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Jackie’s Boy (Justin Bieber, Madonna, David Guetta) and come up with an accessible R&B pop crossover with an instant chorus hook, a persuasive vocal performance and a lyric that will undoubtedly resonate with many.
Prema, adopted from Sri Lanka and raised in Tasmania, faced cultural adversities that shaped his music. Prema’s music emphasizes positivity and emotional connection, leading him to establish Self Appreciation Day for mental health awareness. Positivity is shared across Prema’s music, encouraging a deeper emotional connection with his listeners, and incorporating positive mindfulness (Prema refers to this as ‘a good food for thought’). His belief in inspiring and empowering people and their mindsets led Prema Smith to establish Self Appreciation Day—a day to focus on loving and appreciating who you are while advocating for mental health awareness amongst communities.
This Is Me is minimalist when it needs to be, and as it adheres to some of the current modes of pop production, yet creates an embellished dynamism when it counts, when the melodic focus takes the spotlight. Alongside these melodic inventions is Prema’s performance—skilful, spirited, and convincing—which is perhaps not so surprising considering the artist’s mantra: ‘I’m going to be as authentic [and] genuine as possible.’ This Is Me embodies this sentiment, with its roots in Prema’s own experiences. As the artist explains further, ‘This Is Me derives from a deeper truth of my tenacious upbringing.
Being adopted into a white family, growing up in Tasmania at the beginning of the 90s, I was constantly bullied and told that I don’t belong and to go back to where I come from. This song is about all my struggles and failures that I have endured.’
